Language processing studies show that native speakers anticipate linguistic elements before their occurrence. However, it is debated to what extent second language (L2) learners do the same. To address this question, this study examines the processing of cataphora by Chinese-speaking L2 English learners. Additionally, we query whether L2 learners’ expectations of upcoming antecedents are modulated by first language (L1) influence and constrained by Principle B of the Binding Theory (Chomsky, 1981). Two self-paced reading studies show that L1 English speakers’ anticipation of upcoming referents is active and strictly constrained by Principle B. Crucially, L2 English learners also actively predict upcoming referents and are sensitive to Principle B. However, L2 processing patterns suggest that Principle B competes with semantics at later processing stages. Together with data from L1 Chinese and English control participants, these results support the view that anticipatory processing in English is not fundamentally different between monolinguals and bilinguals.

中文翻译：

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隐喻的预期处理受到二语英语中约束原则的限制

语言处理研究表明，母语人士在语言元素出现之前就对其进行了预测。然而，第二语言（L2）学习者在多大程度上做同样的事情还存在争议。为了解决这个问题，本研究考察了汉语二语英语学习者的隐喻处理过程。此外，我们还询问第二语言学习者对即将到来的先行事件的期望是否受到第一语言 (L1) 影响的调节并受到绑定理论 (Chomsky, 1981) 原则 B 的约束。两项自定进度的阅读研究表明，母语英语学习者对即将到来的指示物的预期是积极的，并且受到原则 B 的严格约束。至关重要的是，母语英语学习者也积极地预测即将到来的指示物，并对原则 B 敏感。然而，二语处理模式表明，原则 B B 在后期处理阶段与语义竞争。结合第一语言中文和英语对照参与者的数据，这些结果支持这样的观点：单语者和双语者之间的英语预期处理并没有本质上的不同。